What is Drayage?

Drayage is the short-distance trucking of an ocean or rail container between a transportation hub — a marine terminal, an intermodal rail ramp, or a container yard — and a nearby destination such as a warehouse, distribution center, or another terminal. It is the "first mile" and "last mile" of containerized freight: the leg that connects the long international ocean or domestic rail move to the customer's door.

Although a drayage run is usually only a few miles and often completes in a single day, it is one of the most operationally complex parts of the supply chain. Drivers must schedule an appointment at the terminal, hold the right credentials for port access, locate the correct chassis, and return the empty container before charges accrue — all inside tight terminal gate windows.

Because drayage sits at the seam between ocean, rail, and over-the-road transport, delays here ripple outward: a missed terminal appointment or a chassis shortage can trigger detention, demurrage, and per-diem charges downstream. Shippers who book a reliable, compliant drayage carrier protect the rest of the move.